The Consumer Panel report, released this morning, has raised "urgent, practical issues" about how the switchover is being publicised, and has concluded that a better promotional campaign is needed to inform consumers about the help available to them when going digital.
It has found that some consumers are confused about what equipment they should buy and are not confident about installing digital TV themselves.
The study coincides with the publication of a separate report by the Scottish Consumer Council, which has found that many TV viewers are "confused and anxious" about the digital switchover.
The research behind the Consumer Panel report was carried out by Opinion Leader Research, which tracked the experiences of 41 people as they converted to digital television.
It found that older, disabled and less technically-minded people needed information specifically targeted to them, and that in many cases, they were not aware that a telephone helpline was available to help them.
"The people who lack the technical confidence to start the conversion process really didn't know where to go for information," the report said. "Even buying the equipment was proving difficult."
The Ofcom Consumer Panel is calling on Digital UK -- the independent organisation leading the digital switchover campaign -- to launch a national information campaign, better promotion of the telephone helpline and more information at retail outlets.
The Digital UK switchover is being backed by an ad campaign featuring "Digit Al", a little robotic spokesman who tours the country in a pink van spreading the digital word.
Colette Bowe, chair of the Ofcom Consumer Panel, said: "We wanted to understand the experience of vulnerable consumers as they go digital, and our research is an important step in tracking their experiences.
"They told us clearly that they don't want money [to help them fund the switchover] - they want easily accessible assistance and advice to help them through the process.
"To realise its full potential we need to ensure that every consumer has the ability to make informed decisions about the digital TV package that suits them.
"This report has raised urgent, practical issues about targeting information and support to vulnerable groups that need to be addressed and be part of the regional planning before the first region switches to digital."
The Border television region will go fully digital next year. The small Cumbrian town of Whitehaven has already had its analogue TV signal switched off. That event took place on November 14.
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